Woodstock Council talks budget

WOODSTOCK – The Town Council discussed the fiscal year 2018 budget at their Tuesday night meeting, a budget that contains no proposed increases in taxes or water and sewer rates.

The proposed 2017-2018 budget for the Town of Woodstock totals $11,221,002 with a general fund that includes total revenues of $6,874,168 and the same for expenditures. This is slightly higher than the 2016-2017 amended budget with total revenues of $6,036,875 and the same for expenditures.

The public utilities fund budget includes total revenues of $4,346,834 for the 2017-2018 proposed budget and the same for total expenditures. This is less than the 2016-2017 amended budget with $7,546,296 in total revenues and the same for total expenditures.

The real property tax rate is $0.16 per $100 of assessed value and the personal property tax rate is $0.90 per $100 of assessed value.

Mayor Jeremy McCleary added that there is no proposed tax increase in the fiscal year 2018 proposed budget. The public utilities fund also isn’t requiring a change to the town’s water and sewer rate schedules.

Copies of the detailed proposed budget are available at the Woodstock Town Office at 135 N. Main St. in Woodstock and online at www.townofwoodstockva.gov/FY2018budget.

The council held a public hearing on the budget prior to their regular meeting. No comments were made.

The council also approved a recommendation by the Finance Committee to amend the fiscal year 2017 budget for the appropriation of VDOT snow removal funds of $17,000 for two programmable sign boards requested by the public works department.

The council also approved a recommendation to write off uncollectible taxes totaling $4,896.66 and utility bills totaling $3,550,10.

The council approved a recommendation to appoint Sharon Barncelli to the Economic Development Authority. Her term will began May 2, 2017 and ends May 2, 2021.

During her town manager’s report, Angela Clem said the town recently received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association for the town’s comprehensive annual financial report for the seventh year in a row. This certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.